“New Jersey has lost a giant, and I have lost a dear friend,” DiMaio said. “Chuck was the heart and soul of New Jersey politics. His tireless commitment to this state inspired everyone around him, including me.”

Their friendship began in the early 1970s, when DiMaio, then a high school senior first crossed paths with him as Haytaian was serving on the Mansfield Board of Education. Haytaian’s guidance and encouragement were a powerful influence on DiMaio’s own path in public service.

“From the start, Chuck’s passion for serving the public and his commitment to integrity left a lasting impact on me,” DiMaio said. “He helped guide me when I was just starting out and he never gave up on challenging me to push forward.”

Initially a Democrat local official, DiMaio credited Haytaian for helping him switch to the Republican Party in 1995.

“For eight years, Chuck pressed me to see how much my values aligned with the Republican Party, and his persistence finally convinced me to make the switch,” DiMaio explained. “I’m grateful every day for his guidance, which still shapes my work in the Assembly. Chuck didn’t just mentor me—he helped me find my true voice in public service.”

Haytaian served as Assembly Speaker from 1992 to 1996 and was first elected to the Assembly in 1981, winning re-election six times. He held several key leadership roles, including minority whip from 1984 to 1985, majority leader from 1986 to 1989 and minority leader from 1990 to 1991.

In 1992, Republicans gained 58 Assembly seats on a wave of opposition to higher taxes. Speaker Haytaian boasted that the Republican-controlled, veto-proof legislature governed the state. His toughness was legendary, he even moved two Republican members to the Democrat side of the chamber after they voted with the Democrats on a bill.

Haytaian was a key supporter of Gov. Christie Whitman’s successful campaign for governor in 1993 and continued to back her in her 1997 re-election as state Republican Party chairman, a role he held from 1995 to 2001.

DiMaio extended his deepest condolences to Haytaian’s family and to the many others who will mourn his passing.

“Chuck’s legacy will live on in the lives he touched and the people he served so faithfully,” DiMaio concluded. “My heart goes out to his family, and I will always carry his wisdom and friendship with me.”